An increasing number of devices in our home are connected to the internet. In the age of smart homes and the Internet of Things (IoT), TVs, gaming consoles, streaming devices, alarm systems, doorbells, and more are transmitting information over the internet. With all of this data comes big privacy and security concerns, this is where a VPN for routers comes in, as they can protect every device at home.

Thankfully, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) solves these issues. Although you may consider a VPN to be a piece of software for desktop computers and mobile devices, many can be configured to your home router to protect every device in your home. A VPN connection will encrypt all traffic flowing to and from every internet-connected device and tunnel it through an intermediary server. This server can be in a location of your choice, so as a bonus, a VPN is great for unblocking geo-restricted content, for example, if you want to use it with your smart TV.

We cover each VPN in detail below, but if you are in a rush, here’s a quick summary of the best VPNs for routers:

  • ExpressVPN:  Our top choice VPN for routers. ExpressVPN provides one of the most straightforward VPN router setups on our list. With servers in 94+ countries, you can expect fast and reliable connection speeds that make activities like streaming a breeze.
  • NordVPN: NordVPN provides an inexpensive solution to configure a VPN on a router with 24/7 customer support available every step of the way. It has over 5,000 servers across the globe, many of which are optimized for streaming.
  • CyberGhost: Stream US Netflix from any device via your router and enjoy uninterrupted VPN protection with 8000 servers in over 90 countries.
  • IPVanish: Fast and secure obfuscated servers are ideal for many online activities. Its remote control feature is also useful for easy navigation using a mouse and keyboard on router installs.
  • PrivateVPN: Lightning-fast speeds are ideal for game consoles to share your VPN connection via a router. Works with a selection of apps such as Twitch, Discord, and Netflix with zero interruptions.
  • Private Internet Access: PIA includes a SOCKS5 proxy and many helpful customization options for advanced users. WireGuard ensures a fast and reliable connection, ideal for streaming content using a router as a single connection point.

The best VPNs for routers

In this post, we reveal the best VPNs for routers and explain more about why you’d want to use one and how to get started. For our list of the best VPNs for routers, we base our decision on the following criteria:

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide ExpressVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your ExpressVPN trial here.

  • Offers relatively straightforward setup with home routers, including setup guides
  • Provides fast connections with minimum downtime
  • Uses strong encryption along with a range of security features
  • Operates a large network of servers with plenty of location options
  • Includes prompt and knowledgeable customer support

Here our list of the best VPNs for home routers:

1. ExpressVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

ExpressVPN is hands-down the best VPN for routers. It has plenty of options to suit every level of tech-savvy. Pre-configured routers are available through FlashRouter, but ExpressVPN makes its own custom firmware that is simple and intuitive and can be installed on compatible routers. Already have a VPN-enabled router? Not a problem, as ExpressVPN is compatible with other firmwares, including Tomato, OpenWrt, and DD-WRT. If you have any trouble, 24/7 live chat customer support is on hand to help.

BEST VPN FOR ROUTERS:ExpressVPN is an excellent all-rounder and makes router setup simple for every competency and budget. It’s fast, reliable, secure, and great for streaming.

Pros:

  • Has lots of setup options for routers
  • Apps for plenty of other devices
  • Offers fast speeds and reliable connections
  • Provides server options in 94 countries
  • Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and others
  • Has 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Costs slightly more than some rivals

Our score:

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

2. NordVPN

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

NordVPN is another great choice for routers. It operates a massive network of more than 5,000 servers, with many optimized for various tasks, including streaming, double VPN, and anti-DDoS. Pre-configured routers are available or you can set up the VPN yourself using a guide from NordVPN’s extensive library. There’s even a tutorial for setup with the newer but increasingly popular OpenWrt firmware, a rarity among providers. A live chat support team is available around the clock.

RELIABLE VPN:NordVPN is secure, fast, reliable, and easily unblocks popular streaming platforms. Some servers are even optimized specifically for streaming.

  • Connection to servers can sometimes be slow

Check out our in-depth review of NordVPN.

3. CyberGhost

Website: www.Cyberghost.com

Money-back guarantee: 45 DAYS

CyberGhost is a growing VPN provider that offers great speeds, strong security, and access to lots of blocked content. Pre-configured routers are available and the provider supports set up with various firmware, including Tomato and DD-WRT. A live chat agent is available any time to help if needed.

Security features include 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and automatic wifi protection on familiar networks. Apps are provided for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android, and manual configuration with Linux is possible. Seven devices can be connected simultaneously, so that’s six in addition to the router.

FAST SPEEDS:CyberGhost’s fast speeds make it a great choice for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and pretty much anything else you want to do online.

  • Easy to configure with routers

  • Provides a fast, reliable connection

  • Comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee

  • Allows up to seven concurrent connections

  • Has trouble unblocking some streaming services

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

4. IPVanish

Website: www.IPVanish.com

IPVanish is another one of FlashRouter’s featured VPN providers (along with ExpressVPN and NordVPN). Aside from pre-configured routers being available, the VPN can be configured manually with compatible routers. IPVanish recently introduced 24/7 live chat to its list of perks, so there’ll always be help at hand should you need it.

REMOTE-CONTROL FRIENDLY:IPVanish is ideal for use with devices that lack a keyboard and mouse, and offers a fast, secure connection.

  • Has the option of a pre-configured router

  • Advanced security features

  • Provides 24/7 live chat support

  • Allows 10 simultaneous connections

  • Doesn’t unblock some of the more popular streaming platforms

Delve into our in-depth review of IPVanish.

5. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

GREAT FOR STREAMING:PrivateVPN works with a range of streaming sites and has excellent speeds.

  • Keeps your information secure and private

  • Has very fast speeds

  • Works with Netflix, Hulu, and more

  • Doesn’t offer 24/7 live chat

  • Has a small choice of servers

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

6. Private Internet Access

Website: www.PrivateInternetAccess.com

Private Internet Access provides lots of support to help you get up and running with its VPN on a router. Once it’s configured, users can take advantage of the FlashRouter Privacy app on a smartphone to control your privacy and enjoy online freedom.

Apart from the simplicity of its VPN router setup, PIA has a lot going for it. Split tunneling lets you control which activities are sent via a secure VPN tunnel while the rest of your traffic is sent normally. PIA’s use of the WireGuard protocol combined with over 5,000 servers in 80+ countries provides a smooth and reliable experience while watching content on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.

While PIA doesn’t work on as many platforms as some of the other VPNs on our list, it has proven consistent in accessing Netflix in six different regions, including the US.

Private Internet Access includes a 30-day money-back guarantee which is great for those who want to try it before buying. If you don’t like the features or change your mind, you can get a full refund in the first month.

ROBUST PRIVACY: for advanced users, and router options are easily configurable using the FlashRouter Privacy app. 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, and DNS leak protection is included. PIA includes a 30-day money-back guarantee with all plans.

  • Budget provider that can unblock a good range of streaming content

  • Operates over 3,200 servers

  • Strong encryption for secure and private connections

  • Unable to unblock some popular streaming sites

  • Doesn’t work reliably in China

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

Benefits of using a VPN router

Setting up a VPN router doesn’t have to be a difficult process and it can offer a range of benefits, including:

  • Protecting devices that there are no native VPN apps for: While most providers offer apps that cover computers, smartphones, and tablets, this still leaves other internet-connected devices unprotected. Using a VPN router, every IoT device in your home is protected, including your smart TV, streaming device, game console, alarm system, and anything else you may have hooked up to the internet.
  • Protecting multiple devices at once: When you sign up for a VPN package, you usually have a limited number of simultaneous connections allowed under one plan. Protecting your home router only counts as one connection, so you still have the others to spare to cover the devices you and your family take out of your home, such as laptops and smartphones.
  • Doubling up on protection: If you want to be extra cautious and use two VPNs at the same time, you can configure one at the device level and another at the router level. If one fails, you have a backup.
  • Accessing geo-restricted content: Aside from securing all the traffic flowing to and from each device, a VPN enables you to spoof your location. This means you can unblock streaming services, gaming sites, gambling services, sports networks, and other content that may be restricted based on geolocation.

Getting started with a VPN router

We’ve compiled an extensive guide to VPN routers, but here we’ll run through your basic setup options:

1. Purchase a pre-configured router

FlashRouter offers lots of routers pre-configured to your chosen VPN provider’s servers. This is the simplest option, but it’s the most expensive and will mean purchasing a new router even if you have one already.

2. Use a VPN-enabled router

If your router is already flashed with appropriate firmware (that supports OpenVPN), you can follow your chosen VPN provider’s guide to configure the VPN to the router. This should be fairly straightforward and can still be an option for the non-tech-savvy.

3. Flash a router with new firmware

If your router doesn’t already have firmware that supports OpenVPN, you can choose to flash it yourself with new firmware, such as DD-WRT, Tomato, or OpenWrt, all of which are free and open source. Bear in mind that flashing a router is not the simplest of tasks, and carried out incorrectly, could render your router useless.

When deciding on which route you should go, some things to consider are complexity, cost, flexibility, and features.

Can I use a free VPN with my home router?

While there are lots of seemingly attractive options for free VPNs available, they’re a poor choice for almost every use case. For routers in particular, you’d be hard pushed to find one that is configurable with a router and has the required level of support to back you up. Even if it’s doable, you may go to all that trouble only to find you have a slow, intermittent connection that isn’t good for much at all.

Free VPN services have a large number of users and few servers, resulting in poor connections and even queues to connect to a server. What’s more, while you’re connected, many free VPN providers will serve up annoying ads or insert tracking cookies to collect your data for sale to third parties.

Aside from offering a poor user experience and lack of privacy, free VPNs often lack on the security front. In a study of VPN apps, many were found to carry malware, most leaked information, and some didn’t encrypt internet traffic. Going with a paid provider is simpler, offers a lot more security, and only costs a few dollars per month.

Image credit: Pete Linforth licensed under CC0